This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper is recovering after being struck by a car on Christmas Eve while investigating an accident on Interstate 15 in Midvale.

The trooper, whom the Highway Patrol declined to identify initially, was setting out flares at a crash scene on the left shoulder of I-15 at 7600 South at 6:38 p.m. on Monday. An approaching Jeep lost control, slid into the wall and hit the trooper.

He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and was able to walk on his own to an ambulance. But he complained of head, neck, leg and back pain, said Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson. He added the trooper appeared to be doing well on Christmas Day.

"This is a good reminder for motorists to keep their speeds within the posted limits, and to even reduce their speed further during inclement weather," Johnson said.

"Also, motorists need to slow down and move over whenever they see emergency vehicles ahead with their emergency equipment activated," he added. "We are very fortunate that this did not turn out worse than it did for our trooper."